Rankin reverses lunch policy on youth ministers

District backs away from ban on clergy eating on campus with students

11:16 PM,
Oct. 9, 2013

Written by

Sarah Rafique
srafique@jackson.gannett.com

When Ryan Mullins visits schools to eat lunch with members of his congregation, he shies away from religious-based discussions. Regardless, the Rankin County School District tried to eliminate those lunches Monday, tightening the rules on religion in schools.

The policy was short-lived. A day after sending out a memo on the new policy, the district reversed its stance on banning pastors from eating lunch with students on campus.

Mullins, student pastor at Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, knows that even with the reversal, there is a fine line for religion in public schools. "This is ...